Learning Falcon 203: Using Effect Racks

The Effect Rack is a special kind of effect module that creates a new effects path inline where the Effect Rack module is added, similar to patching in an external rack of effects from a mixing console. Macros can then be added for “front-panel” control of the effects in the Effect Rack’s FX chain.

To see it in action load a program, then switch the Effects Tab and add an Effect Rack.

When the Effect Rack is added, it does not add any audio processing on its own; instead, it creates a new FX chain. Navigate to the Tree tab and toggle open the our new Effect Rack. Inside we see ‘Chain 1’, can right-click this chain to add as many effects as we like.

Let’s add a delay and a filter to chain 1, Analog Tape Delay and LowPass 24.

Enable the Modulation Editor by clicking the Visibility Toggle in the Edit toolbar.

Now right-click the Delay knob in the Analog Tape Delay effect and select ‘Assign Effect Rack Macro > Add new macro’. In the Editor below you will see the Macro modulator we just created along with all of its editable parameters. Locatea field titled ‘DisplayName’, double-click and rename it to ‘Delay’. Do the same for the filter cutoff, renaming it ‘CutOff’.

Now let’s head back to the Effect Rack “front panel” by selecting the Effect Rack in the Tree view. Now we see our two macros and the names we set for them.

If you want to change the layout of the Macro panel hit Ctrl+E on PC or Cmd+E on Mac to enter Edit Mode. Select both macro knobs and right-click over the background for helpful layout options. You can also add a custom background by dragging an image onto the panel. Hit Ctrl+E on PC or Cmd+E on Mac again to exit Edit mode when your changes are complete.

To set the overall level of the FX chain, adjust the FX Chain’s Volume Slider in the Tree view.We can even add whole additional FX chains to a single Effect Rack for parallel processing. To do this right-click the Effect Rack in Tree view and select ‘Add FX Chain’.If you save an Effect Rack preset, the settings for all of its loaded effects will also be saved along with all macro assignments and customizations.